What is the ultimate purpose of our mortal existence here on earth? Most people quickly answer that we are here to gain a physical body and to be tested. However, there is a third, equally crucial reason: we are here to acquire and refine the attributes of Deity.
The embedded document below provides a magnificent overview of what it truly means to become like our Heavenly Father. It compiles insights from ancient apostles, modern prophets, and even American founding fathers. By studying this guide, you will find a practical, step-by-step path toward eternal self-improvement.
Prophetic Counsel on Godliness
When we study the attributes of Deity, we quickly learn that God’s perfection is a beautiful balance of traits. President John Taylor taught that in the great act of the Atonement, all of God’s attributes perfectly harmonize. His perfect justice, righteous judgment, boundless mercy, and eternal peace all work together seamlessly.
The Doctrine and Covenants also frequently invites us to develop these exact same characteristics. In section four, the Lord commands us to remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, and brotherly kindness. Without these foundational traits, we simply cannot qualify for the work of the ministry.Furthermore, the Prophet Joseph Smith taught that an acquaintance with these divine characteristics is absolutely essential. In order for any rational being to center their faith in God for salvation, they must understand His true nature. We must know that He is merciful, slow to anger, abundant in goodness, and completely unchangeable.
A Comprehensive List of 24 Traits
The document provides a fascinating, alphabetized list of 24 specific attributes of Deity. This list serves as a perfect spiritual blueprint for the elect of God to follow. It includes powerful virtues such as charity, diligence, faith, forbearance, forgiveness, and absolute integrity.
Charity is often considered the highest of all these virtues, encompassing several other traits within it. Modern prophets have noted that charity is not just a single action, but a complete and holy way of life. Other essential traits on the list include gratitude, humility, patience, and absolute truthfulness.
Benjamin Franklin’s Brilliant Method
Knowing which traits to develop is easy, but actually incorporating them into our daily lives is incredibly difficult. This is where the document introduces a brilliant, practical strategy created by Benjamin Franklin in 1726. He created a highly methodical “13 Virtues” program to actively build his moral character.
Franklin realized that trying to perfect every single virtue at once would be overwhelming and distracting. Instead, he decided to fix his attention on just one specific virtue at a time. He tracked his daily successes and failures in a small notebook to ensure constant vigilance against old, bad habits.
Focusing Your Daily Efforts
We can use this exact same approach when trying to develop the attributes of Deity. Franklin chose to start with “Temperance,” noting that it procured the clearheadedness needed to conquer the other virtues. Once he felt he had mastered temperance, he moved on to “Silence,” aiming to break his habit of trifling conversation.
His list also included order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, and justice. He carefully arranged his list so that the acquisition of one virtue would naturally facilitate the acquisition of the next. He cycled through these 13 virtues four times a year, constantly refining his personal character.
An Eternal Journey of Growth
If our ultimate goal is to become like our Heavenly Father, we must be patient with ourselves. Acquiring the attributes of Deity is not something that happens overnight or even in a single mortal lifetime. It is a glorious process that will continue over the millennia that await us in the future.
However, the effort we put in today will pay massive spiritual dividends tomorrow. By focusing on one Christlike trait at a time, we can make steady, measurable progress toward our eternal destiny. Please take a few minutes to read the embedded 4-page document below to view the full list of 24 traits!
